Golf practice device



Feb. 25, 1969 1 i X W A2 I ,L/A

\ GB STANCE O E )7 FOR FADE DP OR SUCE STANCE 1 FOR HOOK I A2 7, ORDRAW/ I I I $.13 A)! I KENN INVENTOR ETH B4 GODDEN AT TORNEY UnitedStates Patent "ice 3,429,577 GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Kenneth B. Godden, Box95, Cornell, Ill. 61319 Filed Aug. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 573,228 US. Cl.273186 2 Claims Int. Cl. A63b 69/36 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golfpractice device characterized by a pair of arcuate shaped membersadapted to be placed on the ground to the front and rear of a golf ballresting on the ground substantially at the center of the arcs of saidarcuate shaped members, each of said members having an indicatorextending therefrom in directions corresponding to the normal directionof flight of the golf ball, and structure adjustably positioned on thearcuate members adapted to be struck by the club head when the path ofmovement of the club head is such as to give a line of flight to thegolf ball other than the normal one.

In describing the invention herein, reference will be made to asituation where the golfer is right-handed, but it will be obvious thatthe device is just as useful for left-handed golfers.

Structure according to the present invention will provide the golferwith a visual and physical guide prior to swinging, and an indicator ofresults during and subsequent to execution of the swing. Such structurewill also enable the golfer to analyze his swing, and inform himself ofthe swing characteristics causing the ball to hook, slice, or describe arelatively straight trajectory. The structure will aid in teaching himto hook, or slice the ball in varying degrees as desired, or hit anessentially straight ball.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide structurefor aiding and instructing a golfer to attain a correct stance, clubgrip, and execution of the swing to result in the striking of the ballproperly, and consequent desired control of the flight of the ball. Thedevice is designed to teach, through actual practice, the golfer toaccomplish a proper back swing, follow through and finish swing.

Another object is to teach the golfer to impart desired rotation to theball to cause it to fade or slice, or rotation of an opposite sense tocause the ball to hook.

Still another object is to provide a device for use in actual play orpractice, and which will not impose anything in the path of the ball orprovide anything tending to distract the player from his concentration.

Another object is to provide structure which will give an indication ofthe path of the club head to tell the golfer of the aberrations in hisstroke.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparentfrom a study of the specification following taken with the drawing whichtogether describe and illustrate a preferred embodiment of the inventionand what is now considered to be the best mode of practising theprinciples thereof. Other embodiments may be suggested to those havingthe benefit of the teachings herein, and such other embodiments areintended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope of thesubjoined claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device according to the present invention,and showing the varying strokes of a right handed golfer employing thedevice;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2of FIG. 1, showing the path taken by the club head;

3,429,577 Patented Feb. 25, 1969 FIG. 3 is a perspective view showingthe path of a club head in causing the ball to hook or draw;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the device seen in FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of details of the direction pointer; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective of a target device for the path of the clubhead.

The golf practice device according to the present invention is referredto generally by the reference numeral 10 and includes two groundengaging arcuate members 11 and 12 placed in confronting relationshipand equally spaced from a common diameter D having a golf ball GB placedthereon.

Each arcuate member is preferably formed from light tubular stock andthe ends thereof are bent downward and formed to provide groundpenetrating extensions 13. The midpoint of each arcuate member 12 has aseparable direction pointer DP extending in a direction corresponding tothe desired direction of flight of the ball GB.

The direction pointer DP is preferably molded from a resilient elastomerhaving spaced jaws 14 defined also by an entrant slot 16 to receive thetubular member 12. A ground entering extension 15 holds the pointer DPin position along with arcuate member 12.

At least one target member 17 is mounted on the arcuate member 12 to oneside or the other of the direction pointer DP. Each target member 17 iscomprised of a support arm 18 having a semi-circular hub 19 inconfronting relationship with a similar semi-circular hub 21 made aspart of a clamp arm 22. The latter is hingedly connected at 23 tosupport arm 18, and a torsion spring 24 is constrained between the twoarms 18 and 22 to force the hubs 19 and 21 about the arcuate member 12,but enabling the target 17 to swivel when contacted by a club head.

The user of the device will normally employ two identical components ofthe device, but it would be possible to use but one only. In the lattercase, only the finish of the stroke in front of the ball, or thebackstroke behind the ball is learned. The direction pointers DP of eacharcuate member are placed on a direct line corresponding to the desireddirection of flight of the ball. The distance from the ball GB to thearcuate members 12 may vary somewhat, but the distance apart will besubstantially the diameter of the arc.

The target members 17 are placed along a line corresponding to the clubhead path, and the stance taken by the golfer for achieving either ahook or a slice will be determinative also of the position of the target17.

Consider the closed stance shown in FIG. 1 for a hook or draw, and insuch a stance the golfer ordinarily swings from the inside-out, in aswing path indicated by letters A or A The extent of the inside-outswing will be determined by the location of the target members 17 on thearcuate members 12 which will tip if they are in the path of the club.

The open stance shown in FIG. 1 for a fade or slice is one where thegolfer ordinarily swings from the outsidein in a swing path indicated byletter A As the ball GB leaves the club head at the time of impact, itordinarily at first pursues the indicated flight path unless a spin hasbeen placed on the ball by the swings described as A, A and A In FIG. 3there is shown an inside-out swing causing the ball GB to spin indirection as shown to result in a draw or hook. The deviation from thetrue flight is somewhat exaggerated in FIG. 3, but the spin describedwill cause the ball to veer to the left.

The device according to the present invention will aid the golfer toachieve the proper stance and club grip to produce the desired results.When the golfer takes a stance facing at a right angle to a line passingthrough the direction pointers, with the feet positioned so that a linedrawn across the toes would be approximately parallel to the desiredclub head path, this will automatically produce the proper stancecorresponding to the setting of the device. If the device is set to drawor book the ball, the proper closed stance will result. If the device isset to fade or slide the ball, the proper open stance will result.correspondingly, when the stance is assumed, the clubface placedperpendicular to the line through the direction pointers, and a normalgrip assumed, this will automatically result in a strong closedclubface, when the device is set to draw the ball. Similarly, a weakopen clubface will result when the device is set to fade the ball.

After a period of practicing hitting balls using the device, the usershould develop a feel and sense of how the swing must be executed, inorder to produce certain effects upon the flight of the ball. Thisawareness should remain with him without use of the device, and properlyguide his actions during actual play. Correction of an objectionableslice or hook, or some other bad habit, should not prove difficult withthe aid of the device. The user will probably want to return topracticing with the device periodically as errors may creep into hisswing, a problem experienced by most golfers from the best on down tothe high handicappers.

While the invention has been described in terms of a preferredembodiment thereof, its scope is to be determined only by the claimshere appended.

I claim:

1. A golfers practice device comprising a pair of elongated arcuatemembers adapted to be positioned on a horizontal surface in spacednon-contacting relationship to each other to form diametrically opposedarcuate portions of the path of a circle, an elongated direction pointermounted on and extending from each of said arcuate members substantiallyat the midpoint thereof, said elongated direction pointers being adaptedto be longitudinally aligned along a diametrical line of said circle toindicate a desired direction of flight of a golf ball parallel to saidsurface, at least one target member attached to each of said arcuatemembers on one side of the direction pointer thereon, each said targetmember being movably adjustable along a length of the arcuate member towhich it is attached, said target members being adapted to extend upwardfrom said arcuate members to a height such that, when said arcuatemembers are positioned along the path of said circle as aforesaid, saidtarget members may be struck and displaced by a golf club head swung ata golf ball positioned on said surface substantially midway between saidarcuate members to provide an indication of whether the golf ball willtake a flight path other than one indicated by said direction pointers.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said target members aremounted for swiveling movement on said arcuate members from an erectposition to, a knocked down position when struck by a golf club head.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 720,406 2/ 1903 Clifford 2731862,152,381 3/1939 Harpster 273-18'6 2,712,939 7/1955 Harp 273186 FOREIGNPATENTS 383,767 11/1932 Great Britain.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

